Wednesday, August 19, 2009

2009 Proceedings - Barron Barnett Lodge No.146 UGLQ


Symbolism of the Columns
by W.Bro.Tony Tabrett, Barron Barnett Lodge No.146 UGLQ
(Adapted from his powerpoint presentation in Barron Barnett Lodge on 15 July 2009).

The three Great Lights in Freemasonry, the VSL, Square and Compasses, rightfully deserve pride of place in our ceremonies and hearts. They are given prominence in a central place in our lodge room. Also in a prominent place are what some regard as the three lesser lights in Freemasonry ‑ the columns of wisdom, strength and beauty, represented by the Ionic, Doric and Corinthian styles of architecture. In our ritual the three lesser lights are situated in the South, West and East, representing the Sun. Moon and Master of the Lodge, as are the three columns of the two Wardens and Master.
You will all be familiar with the basic concepts of these columns, however sometimes the meanings can be very elusive. This presentation looks at some of the perspectives and meanings, arising from my research into Columns in particular and architecture in general.
The first point I would like to make is an obvious one ‑ that architecture is central to our Craft, as for example in the first degree we acknowledge God as the GAOTU. We are encouraged to apply the principles of architecture to our lives, in a similar way to the association of those three columns with wisdom, strength and beauty.

The oldest concepts of Columns or Pillars (terms used interchangeably) go back to the Tree and Pillar symbols in Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria, Phoenicia and Egypt. The Tree was represented as a gateway to the Abode of the Blessed, and Pillar symbols related to a stylised form of tree, with the idea of an axis or antenna communicating with the Eternal. Hence the idea of a link between earth and heaven arose.

Thus columns had a symbolic value, taken up by ancient civilisations to represent their communication with the deities, as well as to adorn their temples. They became the classical style of architecture we recognise today as synonymous with beautiful buildings, structures with a temple style front. decorated columns, and symmetrical facade.

In particular, Order contributed to the appeal of almost all substantial works of architecture, with those ordered designs of the Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns being the most obvious examples.

Architecture excites our respect for the highest of human aspirations, a theme elaborated in the following presentation.

The second point I would like to make is that we learn lessons from architecture about how to conduct our lives and build our society,
Prof. Curl writes in his book "The Art and Architecture of Freetnasonry" (1), that greater significance was found in Continental Freemasonry which proposed that Architecture and Society were inexorably linked.
"Order and Geometry were associated with the structure of society. The teniple was the greatest achievement in ancient society, linked to the establishment of values.
Freemasons sought to build a moral edifice based on what was noble, splendid and true from antiquity. They sought a return to simple, primitive and elemental truths. Hence foundations were formed from the simplified forms of architecture dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Solomon's temple".

My third point is that the lessons to be learned include the attributes of Wisdom, Strength and Beauty (as well as our study of the liberal arts and sciences).
The importance of classical architecture to Freemasons', was also mentioned in "The Constitution" (of Freemasonry) first published by James Anderson in 1723. Janies stated unequivocally that ~Ihe arts of buildinj attained their highest degree of perfection under the Roman Emperor Augustus, who was the patron of Vitruvius. Anderson and his fellows expected masons to share their enthusiasm for the ordered architecture of the classical world and their determination to use the procedures of building to illustrate the process of spiritual development.
Another of the earliest known documents is a published work by Samuel Pritchard (3), in 1730 for "constituted regular lodges", concerning their "regular proceeding in initiating their new members in the whole three degrees of masonry".
Q. What supports a Lodge ?
A. Three great Pillars
Q What am they called?
A. Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
Q‑ Why so?
A. Wisdom to contrive, Strength to supporr, and Beauty to adorn. ~

Hence the concept of pillars (or columns) to signify wisdom, strength and beauty has been an integral part of the ritual from the earliest days of speculative Freemasonry. Pritchard's Q&A format was embellished in the First Emulation Lecture. which elaborated on Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in terms of the Master's column and the Wardens' columns.
Wisdom, Strength and Beauty ‑‑ these are qualities related to the Grecian orders, which are 'suggested by the diversity of form in the human frame'. The Master's column, the Ionic, representing Wisdom, was created to meet the need for grace and elegance, which were lacking in the earlier Doric order. The Ionic order was eniployed in the erection of the temple of the goddess Diana. This column 'is formed after the model of a beautiful young woman, dressed in her hair', represented by the volutes, those lovely spiral scrolls appended to each side of the capital.
The Senior Warden's or Doric column - the simplest of the Grecian orders, representing Strength, is in a sense both counterpart and companion to the Ionic.
It 'has no ornament except mouldings on either base or capital . . . the composition of this order is both grand and noble. Being formed after the model of a muscular, full grown man. it... is principally used in structures where strength and a noble simplicity are required'.

The Junior Warden's or Corinthian column, representing, Beauty, is the most sophisticated of the orders of Grecian origin. It retains the volutes of the lonic column, adding rows of leaves, and is ten diameters high, giving it more slender and elegant proportions than the others. Paradoxically, this column, adorning the position of the most junior of the three principal officers, is the most graceful, elegant and beautiful of the three.

In many rites, three columns are topped with lights or candlesticks which are lit at the beginning of masonic work and extinguished at the end.

The three orders (Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) are shown in this English Tracing Board of the early 19th century. Note that Ionic is identified with Strength instead of Wisdom.
When pillars of the three orders came to be attributed to the three principal officers, it should be noted that the pillars were allotted in their historical order, namely Doric to the Master, Ionic to the SW and Corinthian to the JW. In 1791 the Chairs for the English Premier Grand Lodge were made in the same order. However with the revision and standardization of the working by the Lodge of Reconciliation (1813‑16) the Ionic pillar was allotted to the Master, the Doric to the SW and the Corinthian to the JW.


Columns have also been depicted on Master Mason's Certificates (since the early 1800s) and on aprons. This French Master Mason's Apron c.1800 (not shown) features the columns of Boaz and Jachin surmounted with the busts of the Pro‑Grand Master of the Grand Orient and of Napoleon. It is doubtful Napoleon ever was a freemason, but he wanted to capitalise on the respectability of the Craft.

I would now like to briefly cover the architectural history of columns from the earliest Egyptian and Phoenician periods.
The Palace of King Minos at Knossos in Crete, (pre­-1400 BC) was an example of Aegean culture which flourished in the middle of the second millennium BC. It was a forerunner of Hellenic Classicism (though different architectural form), and represented a cross‑fertilisation with ancient Egyptian and eastern Mediterranean cultures.

From the early Monarchy period (1030 ‑ 900 BC) buildings with rows of pillars and carved capitals (proto-Aeolic or Ionic) of Phoenician influence have been found at several sites. The pillars in King Solomon's Temple may well have taken this form.

The ancient Egyptians strongly believed in geometric form as a means of inspiration for the working class, as well as for a sacred function (as in a temple).

An early document the 'Rhind Papyrus' states "Precise calculation is the gateway to a knowledge of all things".
An important element in Egyptian architecture was the column which appeared in various types.
Palmiform ‑‑ leaves opening upward
Lotus ‑‑ calyx‑shaped leaves closing on
themselves
Papyrus ‑ closed capital
Composite ‑ more elaborate variations


The Golden Age of ancient Egypt was from 16th to 11 th century BC. The immense wealth of the Pharaohs was spent on temples with obelisks and vivid reliefs and paintings. Fluted 'proto‑Doric' columns were first carved in the entrance to the 12th dynasty tombs, and later made to appear more elegant by tapering towards the top. The ancient Egyptians,i had a well‑developed view of temple architecture as the domain of the god.

The Temple of Isis with its decorated columns, was built about 247 BC. The capitals were composite design.

This reconstruction from the Ptolemaic age about 150 BC shows the splendid, highly varied decoration of Egyptian temples abounding in symbolic allusions.

The ancient Greeks also conceived the universe in architectural terms. Through trading links, the Greeks learnt from the Egyptians and built in a similar style using columns and beams.

The colonnaded Greek temple was invented around 600 BC. Driving its creation was a dynamic new society formed in Greek lands from 8th century, BC, a young world pioneering its identity in a range of media from poetry to architecture.

The origins of the classical orders of architecture have been lost to mythology, but their precise rules for proportion and ornament, provide tantalising allusions to ancient cultural traditions and beliefs. Today research is being directed towards the meaning of the form, including their ideas on the cosmos.

Greek architects were required to produce buildings that evoked the spirit of the age, concentrating on subtlety of design, symmetry and above all elegant beauty. Typically a ternple was a rectangular walled building surrounded by a pillared colonnade.
The Parthenon (built about 438 BC) was constructed of Pentelic marble in the Doric style with 8 columns along the front and 17 on the sides.

The Parthenon was regarded as the epitome of ancient Greek cultural achievement, combining order, reason and elegance in a way that typified the spirit of the age.

This form of Hellenic Classicism has captivated every generation since 5th century BC and inaugurated a tradition that lasted 2,500 years.

The Ionic Temple at Artemis at Ephesus, Western Turkey was classed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (8).
It was built about 356 BC and had 127 lonic columns each over 18 metres high with figured bases and was the largest religious shrine in the ancient world. The many columns are said to have been fashioned in gold.

Trajan's column, in Rome, was built about 112 AD to celebrate Emperor Trajan's victories. It was regarded as one of the masterpieces of the ancient world with its 35 m stylised Doric column. It has been covered with an unbroken band of relief sculpture containing 2,500 human figures (two thirds life‑size).
Classical architecture was first documented by Marcus Vitruvius, a Rornan writer, architect and military engineer (under Julitis Caesar and Caesar Augustus).
His book ‑ De Architectura is the only surviving major book on architecture from classical antiquity. He asserted that in architecture
a structure must exhibit 3 qualities: firmitas (to be strong or durable), utilita.s (useful) and venustas (beautiful).


In 1570 Andrea Palladio, one of the greatest architects of the High Renaissance published 'the Four Books of Architecture' based on his studies of Roman architecture and his knowledge of the works of Vitruvius. The Palladianism period of architecture took its name after his neo‑classical style. Interestingly this neo­classical revival occurred at about the same time as Speculative Freemasonry was taking root,
Examples of the noble orders of architecture can be found in many famous buildings around the world. The Colonnade at St Peter's Square in Rome comprises 288 Doric columns. The Lincoin Memorial (1922) in the USA was built in the classical Greek temple form, like the Parthenon. The building is flanked by 38 large Doric columns of white Colorado marble, 13.4 metres 11 i gh.

Gold was the key attraction at the first world exposition" in Queensland in 1897. Towering over the mining court were two gigantic Doric columns 35 feet high and gilded to look like solid gold. These columns celebrated tile 11,198,600 ounces of gold produced by the colony since
Eliropean settlement began.

The Masonle Lodge Hall at Pomona was adorned with murals on all four walls, with this slide showing the Ionic order on the East wall.
With the passage of time, the laws of Vitruvius and Palladio have lost their relevance today. All influencing factor in modern architectural design has been the emphasis on functional design, an area where engineers have introduced new ideas, materials and building techniques.
Architects nevertheless strive to achieve beauty of form in building design, a quality which has always been elusively hard to define and to realise in practice. Furthermore there is an ancient maxim that beauty lies between the extremities of order and complexity.


Nevertheless the attributes of wisdom, strength and beauty are still as relevant as ever today, and I would like to conclude with some thoughts from an article in the American magazine The Builder, (published in 1919).
"Happy is he who has Wisdom to plan his life and to build up his character in Strength and Beauty so as to merit the approbation of his Divine Master!
He must contemplate the columns of Strength and Beauty before he call determine the nature of the spiritual building he ought to erect.

As, in Architecture, an edifice must, above all, be built of sufficient strength to resist all possible stress, so, in "Moral Geornetry," a Mason's character must be of sufficient strength to withstand temptation, however powerful. It must be "steadfast, unmovable. "
But Masonry requires of us more than strength. It also demands beauty.
The word denotes primarily that which pleases the eye or ear, but it is applied also to that quality in any object of thought which awakens admiration or approval, as, intellectual beauty, moral beauty, and so on."

The aim of this presentation has been to explore the historical significance of columns and their place in Freemasonry. As you can see they have a long history of symbolic importance. from the inspirational values in ancient Egypt to the Greek focus on subtlety of design, symmetry and elegant beauty. The concluding thought 1 leave with you is that wisdom, strength and beauty ‑ the three lesser lights Freemasonry
(represented by the Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns) are a key part of our culture, providing foundations for personal development and growth.
Wor Bro Tony Tabrett PM
Barron Barnett Lodge No 146 UGLQ
Bibliography:
1. "The Art and Architecture of Freemasonry" by James Stevens Curl ‑ Batsford 1991
2. "The Freemasons" by Jeremy Hanvood ‑ Hen‑nes House 2006
3. "Masonry Dissected" by Samuel Pritchard (Poemandres Press) 1996 reprint of 1730 original
4. "Freemasonry Today" ‑‑ Issue 26 Autumn 2003 UGLE
5. "ISMS Understanding Axchitecture" by Jeremy Melvin 2005
6, "The Complete Handbook of Architecture" by Patrick Nuttgens
7. 'The Complete Greek Temples" by Tony Spawforth ‑ Thames & fludson 2006
8. "Architecture" by Jonathan Glancey DK 2006
9. "Showing Off Queensland at World Expositions" bv Judith McKay, (CQU Press)
10. http://www.masonicdictionary.coni/
The following is discussion on the preceding paper "Symbolism of the Columns" by W.Bro.Tony Tabrett, PM, Barron Barnett Lodge of Research No.146 UGLQ.

W.Bro.Fried: Comment.
Free standing columns mostly called pillars as opposed to columns used for structural purposes…..
I’ll stop there I could say a lot about columns but I’d like to hear what other Brethren have to say.

R.W.Bro.Richard King: Comment.
I have been to the Acropolis in Athens and have seen the building, the Erectheum at the side of which is the Caryatid porch – they were beautifully graceful and it’s a beautifully proportioned building.
(Transcriber’s note: From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/288042756/ - The Erectheum is situated on the most sacred site of the Acropolis. It is said to be where Poseidon left his trident marks in the rock, and Athena's olive tree sprouted, in their battle for possession of the city.
Named after Erechtheus, one of the mythical kings of Athens, the temple was a sanctuary to both Athena Polias, and Erechtheus-Poseidon. The Erectheum has three main parts: the main section of the temple, the north porch, and the Porch of Caryatids. The main section is divided into an eastern and a western cella. The ledge above the door on the western cella to the Caryatid porch held Kammimachos' famous gold palm-tree lamp. The South Porch is commonly called the Caryatid Porch. The women (functioning as columns) are caught midstride, with the three on the left sporting bent left knees and the remaining bent right. The identity of the Caryatids is unknown.
Best estimates have completion around 395 BC. It has been used for a range of purposes including a harem for the wives of the Turkish disdar in 1463. It was completely destroyed by a Turkish shell in 1827 during the War of Independence causing heated disputes over restoration).

W.Bro.Robert Taylor
Question: In our ritual it mentions columns of copper and brass and that they were hollow and that things were hidden inside – is there any actual evidence of hollow columns.
W.Bro.Fried – No.
This is something which is modern – 18th century.

W.Bro.Milton Ayres
The City Hall has mixture of Ionic & Corinthian columns. Some of these Corinthian columns are square instead of round but still have Corinthian decoration. Just wonder if breaking away from tradition or does it have structural significance only. Customs House has beautiful Corinthian columns around it.

The leaves on the Corinthian column chapiters are from the Acanthus plant, commonly known in Australia as the Oyster plant

R.W.Bro.King
Some controversy about whether these leaves are acanthus – thought could also be a type of lily. An article in Encyclopaedia Britannica and a book by Sir Bannister Fletcher are my sources for the information the details of which I can’t exactly recall. Fletcher says there was great variation and therefore one is unable to say one or other is standard.

W.Bro.Fried.
Most of the time in the ancient world columns represent something very different from what we have today…. It was in fact the phallic symbol - don’t forget it was very important for the people of the time.

BOOK REVIEW

Review of "Turning the Hiram Key - Rituals of Freemasonry Revealed", by Robert Lomas
by W.Bro.Don Barry PGSwB, UGLQ
JW - Barron Barnett Lodge 2009
This book is the first of a "trilogy", the other two being "Turning the Solomon Key" and "Turning the Templar Key" both also by Robert Lomas.

Author: Robert Lomas - English Freemason, University Lecturer, Electrical Engineer and Physicist who has written (with Christopher Knight in the past) many books on the origins, history and meaning of Freemasonry and has lectured widely in the UK and USA on Freemasonry.
Summary: A few years ago Bro.Lomas had a close encounter with a lightning strike which gave him an extraordinary almost paranormal experience. In his own words: “a sense of ecstatic insight and oneness with the universe followed by a sense of peace & wellbeing”. This experience seemed to him to be similar to, though more intense than, the enjoyment and satisfaction he got from Freemasonry. He began to explore what it was about Freemasonry which gave him this feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction. He found the human brain is "wired" to need and enjoy ritual of all kinds. He finds that Masonic ritual has this beneficial affect but without the dogma and restrictions in belief attached to the ritual of formal religion.
Lomas explores the way Masonic ritual has this effect, how it works for the human brain and how to enhance the experience. Finally, he relates (controversially?) this to the founding of Freemasonry in the 15th Century by Sir William Sinclair and to one of the oldest known, clearly Masonic document, the Kirkwall Scroll.

Turning the Hiram Key is divided into 3 Parts.

First Part.

First third of book details his experience of Initiation, Passing and Raising in a Yorkshire Lodge - i.e.Bro.Lomas said he was i, p and r in Ryburn Lodge No 1283, UGLE. This had begun as a Yorkshire Moon Lodge (Why Meet on the Full Moon - As with many Lodges of that day, meetings were held on or around the full moon in order to provide brethren with as much light as possible to travel to and from their Lodge meetings. (Street lighting was not a common facility until the early part of the 20th century) and it worked a version of the Early York ritual which I later discovered is very similar to Aberdeen Ritual (I discovered that when I was made Templar in Aberdeen in 2000). This part details all of the Yorkshire ritual he experienced.
After each degree Lomas still had a lot of questions but was continually told – wait for the next step/degree and it will become clearer. Not so – so did his own research.
After 15 y. had better understanding of origins of FM but still wanted to understand why he enjoyed it so much.
Regarding the "early York ritual" of Ryburn Lodge: it has interesting references to the "lozenge" - the "indented and tessellated border" of the pavement in our ritual is called "an enlozenged border" and the border of the TB itself is also "enlozenged" in the early York ritual - this reference has been lost in our ritual as also in RAC - for example the sash is "irradiated" in Qld SGRAC ritual but that should be enlozenged - both the sash and apron have alternating red/blue lozenges.
What is the significance of this? – perhaps the "early York" ritual (Antients vs Moderns?) may have echoes of a more original and ancient allusion to this "lozenge".

Second Part

1. What is Ritual ?
1. an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite
2. any practice or pattern of behavior regularly performed in a set manner.
3. a prescribed code of behavior regulating social conduct, as that exemplified by the raising of one's hat or the shaking of hands in greeting.
Some Common Forms of Ritual:
Prayer- chanting- singing
Religious services; (aboriginal corroborees)
Masonic Ritual
Meditation/relaxation
Physical exertion – exercise classes?- endorphin production
Rhythmic dancing – Morris dancing, whirling Dervishes; celtic/claymore dancing.
Theatre – Japanese Noh, western Opera etc.

Characteristics of Ritual:
1. Rhythmic & repetitious actions including dancing and singing -> above effects plus intensely pleasurable feelings.
2. Combination of repetitive behaviour with exaggerated gesture -> affect brain activity (amygdala) leading mild feelings of fear or awe. e.g FM – grand or royal sign, degree signs etc.
3. Story telling & combination of 1. & 2. above with story telling - This combination can lead to –> conceptual/ problem solving combined with positive physical and emotional effects
Which provide: - powerful means of imparting information
- Engagement of people emotionally and intellectually – i.e. causes people to become “involved”
- all of which may lead to transcendental effects – spiritual trancendance.
Bro.Lomas writes in detail (not given here) about aspects of storytelling such as Myth, Legend and Memes.
4. Use of symbolism –
1, Symbols can express more than mere words (particularly in illiterate societies as in early FM)
2. Certain symbols seem to resonate – common to many cultures and ages
3. Maths is a symbolic language – Einstein called it a spiritual tool – but a language only understood by adepts – like a priesthood?
4. Extremely ancient:
Lozenge - Earliest symbol dating back 70,000 yr (in Sth Africa - carved into piece of rock ochre).
– see illustration – also according to expert (Gimbutas) other ancient symbols are bands, triangles, squares and circles.
Lozenge most ancient known – also found in Masonic ritual:- Yorkshire ritual – enlozenged pavement and enlozenged border of TB which in our ritual is indented and tessellated border. Also, in RA regalia, the sash or ribbon has colours in enlozenged form – called irradiated in Qld RA ritual, but still in lozenges.

2. How does ritual affect us?
What does Ritual do – What are the benefits thereform?
Newberg & D’Aquili – brain researchers showed Ritual can
1. produce neurological effects -> tranquility, ecstasy and awe
2. produce enhanced mental state - like spiritual transcendence – feeling of calmness & wellbeing.
3. produce physical benefits
Reduced BP
Reduced heart rate
Reduced respiration
Reduced cortisone
Enhanced immune response

Other Effects/Properties of Ritual:
1. Provides a sense of specialness
2. Have personal consequences e.g. religious ritual – confirmation, mass; Masonic initiation – before Mr after Bro.
3. Spiritual dimension – invokes belief in GAOTU “at centre of universe/cosmos” – rituals help us relate to this centre.
4. Reinforce group cohesion – team work? And mark boundaries between members and non-members e.g. FM and cowans and intruders

3. What is a God Experience (GE) or an experience of Cosmic Consciousness (CC)?
What is the CC or GE in terms of Our Ritual Brain
Bro.Lomas poses the question: Is there a science of transcendental consciousness in the rituals and symbols of FM – leading to CC or a GE? Is FM a science of the spirit.
Wilmshurst thought so – The mason learns that a transcendental condition of consciousness is within you….he learns this as a science.
Einstein believed in a “Cosmic Religious Feeling” which is a 3rd stage of religious experience which has no definite notion of God and no theology.
The science of and studies in Neuorotheology suggest “For a widespread belief in God to be so widespread there must be an objective explanation”

Scientist Michael Persinger did analysis of how human brain can create a belief in God:
God Experience – subject feels united with all space/time – God, Allah, Cosmic Cconsciousness. – a common experience among Humans – why?

Frontal lobes -> perception of time – past, present, future – also resulted in a realization of our own death – which could be incapacitating.

Antidote to this fear/perception – GE – one reason for success of our species.
GEs occur rarely – but triggered at times of:
Personal crisis )
Drug use ) -> sudden & total change in attitude
Repetitive ritual )
.Persinger found factors increasing chance of GE:
1. low blood sugar
2. fatigue
3. low Oxygen levels
4. anxiety
5. temporal lobe instability caused by epilepsy -> temporal lobe transient in limbic system
Persinger concluded GE has survival value
But, can also have adverse affects:-
a. Assumption of total righteousness – adopted by religious extremists of all types
b. Egotism & arrogance
c. Belief one’s experience is unique, more real and truer than that of others.

4. How does our brain experience a CC – limbic system

Limbic System - The limbic system is a term for a set of brain structures including the hippocampus and amygdala and anterior thalamic nuclei and a limbic cortex that support a variety of functions including emotion, behavior and long term memory. The structures of the brain described by the limbic system are closely associated with the olfactory structures The term "limbic" comes from Latin limbus, meaning "border" or "edge".
Limbic system: -> evolutionary advantages
1. Aggression – feeding, territory )
2. Fear – survival ) – not under conscious control
3. Emotion – sex, love, nurture )
4. Spiritual?

Limbic System has 4 Areas to assist Comprehension of the World
1. Visual Association Area -> pattern recognition, -> images in meditation or prayer
2. Orientation Association Area -> self-awareness, self boundaries, loss input -> mystical CC or GE
3. Attention Association Area – part of prefrontal cortex -> decision making, seat of will, emotion
4. Verbal/Conceptual Association Area -> abstract thoughts, verbal communication, causal thinking – myth creation & expression in ritual
Newberg & D’Aquili did brain scans of meditating Buddhists and praying nuns – one Buddhist monk who entered the samhadi state – i.e. CC or GE – showed certain part of brain - Orientation Association Area (see above) – was heavily involved – resulting in a loss of distinction between self and the world –> feeling of being at one with Universe.
Persinger, Ramachandran, Newberg & D’Aquili agree limbic system source of mystical/spiritual experience.
(see: The Mystical Mind: Probing the Biology of Religious Experience. Eugene d'Aquili and Andrew B. Newberg; also ‘The "God" Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God by Matthew Alper).

One Model of Limbic System Cosmic Consciousness: - Limbic System Epilepsy:
Epilepsy of motor system – physical seizures
Epilepsy of limbic system - emotional seizures such as ecstacy, deep spiritual experiences such as a CC, as well as rage, terror or despair.
V.S.Ramachandran – Galvanic Skin Response (lie-detector) studies showed:- for limbic (i.e. non-seizure) epileptics who looked at religious images & words - gave amplified responses.
Lomas did similar study with his own students - of 12 symbols – 6 contemporary, 6 ancient – statistical analysis of his results showed the most attractive were the 3 which contained the lozenge and the spiral.

An important point about Masonic ritual and the God Experience is that the God Experience is centred in the Limbic system of the brain but this is a subconscious part of the brain - involving the autonomous i.e. unconscious & automatic, nervous system and dealing with subconscious urges of fight, flight, nurture, love which tend to well up inside us automatically in response to perceived threats/needs.

So the beneficial effects of FM (and other rituals) are only perceived at a subconscious level - unless we become aware of the possibilities of Masonic ritual and consciously pursue them we will not realize its full potential - so perhaps this is one of the most important principles to be learned from the book - all those physiological and neurological effects of various rituals occur subconsciously and we need to be aware of this and consciously pursue and enhance them.

This subconscious aspect and the need for conscious development is important.

Third Part The Meaning of Masonry – The Mystical Mason

This section is based on the works of Walter Lewis Wilmshurst: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/wilmshurstfr.html
This section is very abstract and also very subjective – whereas in the second part Lomas tries to find the scientific evidence and basis for the CC effect, this section provides a more anecdotal and subjective approach to understanding the effects of Masonic ritual.
Bro.Lomas states in an email “I have been greatly influenced by Wilmshurst, as I joined the lodge he founded and set out to study his ideas”.
Bro.Lomas himself kept returning in his book to the belief that FM contains secret knowledge.

Here are quotes of some of Wilmshurst’s ideas:
There are philosophic secrets concealed in the Masonic system
FM is a science of self-awareness and expanded consciousness
¶FM is an expression of ancient doctrine by minds more deeply instructed in the old traditions and secret science than any today.
FM is an experiment upon the mind – promoting the science of human regeneration…. but depends upon the gift of supernal light.
WLM’s private notes:
To pass from mere manhood and carnal understanding to conscious godhead whilst still in the flesh – our unity with the ultimate.
The purpose and goal of initiation and the fundamental hypothesis and philosophical secret of M is that God and the human soul are one.
This seemed to be a Neoplatonist idea – therefore, I put this proposition to Bro. Lomas who replied:-
I agree that WLW has been inspired by Neoplatonic concepts and has used them to develop a particular version of his Masonic truth. I also agree that I have set out to explain how the science of the human condition made his insight possible and how Masonic ritual leads to the type of experience which is set out in Neoplatonic philosophy. But I differ from WLW in that I am not a Neoplatonist but a physicist. My viewpoint is founded in The Copenhagen Interpreation of Neils Bohr and its later development by John Wheeler, who sadly died last month.
FM may be somewhat neoplatonic as Plotinus – possibly first neoplatonist said:“The Absolute has its centre everywhere but its circumference nowhere”
Bro.Lomas says: WLW’s ideas of FM relate to CC or the GE and attaining it without a thunderstorm but by Masonic ritual
WLW also said:
FM is not non-religious but suprasectarian – directed with secrets and mysteries of being not dealt with by popular religion.
It is ontological and philosophical but not theological. (Ontology is the study of the nature of being or existence. Basic question – what exists?)
To reach CC the spirit moves through 4 parts of the circle (second degree square) searching for the great light to be found at the centre, the point from which no mason can err.
The Craft is a discipline of practical spiritual learning leading to the transcendental centre of our mind.
How can Masonry help us attain this?
WLW: FM is not a monastic order but has 3 guidelines to arrive at the centre:
1. Obedience to moral law
2. Daily progress in Masonic science – study, meditation and reflection depending upon personal taste/temperament - maybe should be after point 3 inasmuch is persistent application of
3. FM uses the symbolism of working tools and TBs for daily contemplation and reflection.
Kirkwall Scroll
Is there any evidence for this assertion (¶ above) from very early days of FM?
Bro.Lomas says that the Kirkwall Scroll may be such evidence – carbon 14 dating shows the KS was made about 1400-1520 probably in Aberdeen Lodge - earliest evidence for which is 1536.
From a Lomas website: “The scroll as it is presently displayed could be used a tracing board for the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite by simply unrolling the relevant section for each degree.
Many of inscriptions on the scroll are written in a Masonic code, which used form part of the secrets of the thirteenth degree of Master of the Ninth Arch, or The Royal Arch of Enoch. This Masonic Cypher is known as the Enochian Alphabet.”
Is this the ancient connection to mystical ideas such as Wilmshurst’s? Bro.Lomas believes it might be..

CC = cosmic consciousness experience
GE = God experience
FM = freemasonry
WLW = Walter Lewis Wilmshurst